just lucky enough to get ff tickets with Qantas on the scarce as hens teeth routes for ff tickets- Melbourne to New York prem economy and LAX to Melbourne business and was shocked at the addtional costs . A total of US $773.29-carrier , fees and taxes for 2 persons. .Still may have to airport taxes.

I know nothing about carrier fees in Australia, but BA is renowned for huge carrier-imposed fees (read extra profit) on their flights through LHR. Sometimes there are ways to avoid the fees, sometimes not. So look at what the fees are. I would expect airport taxes to be in the price quote you have received.

Unfortunately like BA, Qantas adds (what used to be called fuel) surcharges on FF tickets, around US$390 per person for the business class portion only.

BA is notorious for this, still $773.29 for two people is not bad at all.

Yes, BA would be worse than that. If you could even find a way to use their avios (FF points).

Kathie-one of the flight originated in US so I'm not sure if it was Qantas imposed or US imposed.
sparkchaser -I guess I should be reassured that the amount is not bad at all.
As fares in Australia have to be inclusive of all taxes and charges its not something we are familiar with.
Gardyloo Qantas announced in Jan 2015 that due to public pressure (read outrage)the airline will progressively remove fuel surcharges from international fares. Not sure where they are with this though.

<i>Gardyloo Qantas announced in Jan 2015 that due to public pressure (read outrage)the airline will progressively remove fuel surcharges from international fares. Not sure where they are with this though.</i>

Here are the taxes and fees breakouts for MEL-xLAX-JFK in Premium Economy and MEL-LAX in business:

MEL-xLAX-JFK, PE

US International Arrival Tax (US) A$24.80
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) A$17.95
Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG) A$4.22
Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU) A$55.00
US Customs Fee (YC) A$7.70
US Immigration Fee (XY) A$9.80
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) A$7.00
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) A$7.90

LAX-MEL, Business

Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) A$17.95
<b>QF YQ surcharge (YQ) A$546.70</b>
US International Departure Tax (US) A$24.80
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) A$7.90
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) A$6.30

The "YQ" line item is airline fare code for (fuel) surcharges. You can see that none is charged for the premium economy flights and a big hit occurs on the business class segment. Presumably somebody at Qantas has decided that business class passengers can afford the extra A$547.

thanks for that Gardyloo .I tried to find out the breakdown but no luck. What do the amounts of $AU657.47 in Melb to NY and $AU251.14 in LAX to Mel fares that are extra to what you have given me mean?